UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) are similar in many ways, with both health insurance companies offering the same major types of health insurance and operating throughout the entire United States. However, BCBS gains a slight edge because it has a larger network and better customer satisfaction ratings.
Read below if you’re interested in more specific UnitedHealthCare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield comparisons that can help you decide which insurance company to choose.
Key Takeaways
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On This Page
- UnitedHealthcare History
- Blue Cross Blue Shield History
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: A Quick Glance
- UnitedHealthcare Pros and Cons
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Pros and Cons
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Structures
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Availability
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: In-Network Providers
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Cost
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Coverage Limits
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Policy Management
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Medical Loss Ratio
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Enrollment Process
- UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Policyholder Experience
- How To File Claims With UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield
- FAQs
UnitedHealthcare History
Richard Burke founded UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, in 1977 while he was still a health analyst at InterStudy. There, he worked alongside Dr. Paul Ellwood, who pioneered the health maintenance organization (HMO) as a way to lower health care costs by changing how medical providers were paid.[1]
Click to read our full UnitedHealthcare review.
Blue Cross Blue Shield History
Blue Cross started out at Baylor University’s hospital in 1929, where hospital administrators aimed to help Dallas public school teachers who were struggling to afford health care by establishing a prepayment plan through which they could pay 50 cents per month to secure coverage for up to 21 days of hospitalization per year. Not long after, Blue Shield began to take root as employers of miners and loggers in the Pacific Northwest made arrangements for their employees to receive care from specific medical practitioners for a monthly premium.[2]
In the 1940s, Blue Cross and Blue Shield began to set up agreements with each other, enabling them to provide more comprehensive major medical coverage for their respective plan members. The two companies formally merged to form the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in 1982.[2] As of 2024, the BCBSA includes 33 subsidiary companies.[3]
Click to read our full Blue Cross Blue Shield review.
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: A Quick Glance
Comparison | UnitedHealthcare | Blue Cross Blue Shield |
---|---|---|
Plan Structures | HMO, PPO, EPO, POS, HMO-POS, CDHP, FSA, HDHP, HSA, Indemnity, Medicaid, Medicare, SNP | HMO, PPO, EPO, POS, HMO-POS, CDHP, FSA, HDHP, HSA, Indemnity, Medicaid, Medicare, SNP |
Availability | 50 states plus D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands | 50 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico |
Coverage Limit | Varies | Varies |
Deductible | Varies | Varies |
Maximum Annual Benefit | Varies | Varies |
Waiting Period | Varies | Varies |
In-Network Providers | 1.3 million | 1.7 million |
Covers Telehealth | Yes | Yes |
Policy Management | Mobile app, online account, phone | Mobile app, online account, phone |
UnitedHealthcare Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Offers all major types of health insurance and operates nationwide | Slightly smaller provider network than Blue Cross Blue Shield |
Mobile app has great reviews | Poor rating by the Better Business Bureau |
Convenient online claims process available for all members |
Blue Cross Blue Shield Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Offers all major types of health insurance and operates nationwide | Mobile app, claims process and other aspects of the customer experience can vary from state to state since BCBS companies operate independently |
Network includes 1.7 million providers | |
Highest customer satisfaction rating in eight regions |
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Structures
UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield both offer a wide array of health insurance coverage types including private Health Insurance Marketplace plans, government-funded health care programs, group coverage through employers and supplemental health insurance policies.
Plan | UnitedHealthcare | Blue Cross Blue Shield |
---|---|---|
Individual & Family | ✓ | ✓ |
Medicare Advantage | ✓ | ✓ |
Medicaid | ✓ | ✓ |
Dental | ✓ | ✓ |
Vision | ✓ | ✓ |
Employer Group | ✓ | ✓ |
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Plan Availability
Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare are basically tied when it comes to availability, as both insurers offer coverage in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and one United States territory.[3][4] That said, you should keep in mind that the availability of certain coverage types may vary from state to state.
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: In-Network Providers
Both UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield boast sizable networks but BCBS takes the lead with a total of 1.7 million in-network providers in the United States, which is the largest domestic health insurance network in the country.[3] Meanwhile, UnitedHealthcare’s network includes over 1.3 million doctors and other health care professionals across more than 6,700 hospitals and medical facilities.[5]
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Cost
Your health insurance premiums can drastically differ depending on your coverage needs and circ*mstances, making it hard to compare average premiums between any two health insurance companies. Generally speaking, Marketplace benchmark plans cost $477 per month and Medicare Advantage plans cost $18.50 per month on average in 2024.[6][7]
Fortunately, health insurance prices are not entirely unpredictable because insurers that comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can only take these factors into account when deciding how much to charge you:[8]
- Age
- Location
- Tobacco use
- Whether you have an individual or family plan
- Plan metal level
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Coverage Limits
Coverage limits can also vary from plan to plan, meaning you will generally be able to find a plan with limits that match your needs and budget. Additionally, ACA-compliant plans cannot place limits on any of the following essential health benefits:[9][10]
- Ambulatory patient services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services (including dental and vision care for children)
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Policy Management
Whether you opt for UnitedHealthcare or Blue Cross Blue Shield, you should have the option to manage the details of your policy by phone, online portal or mobile app. You should note that BCBS companies generally have their own mobile apps, so the user experience can vary depending on where you live.
App | Google Play Store Rating | Apple App Store Rating |
---|---|---|
UnitedHealthcare | 4.6/5 stars[11] | 4.7/5 stars[12] |
Blue Connect Mobile NC | 4/5 stars[13] | 4.3/5 stars[14] |
Blue Shield of California | 3.9/5 stars[15] | 4.8/5 stars[16] |
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Medical Loss Ratio
ACA-compliant health insurers that sell individual or small group health insurance are required to maintain a three-year rolling average medical loss ratio (MLR) of 80%, meaning they must use 80% of the money they receive from policyholders’ premiums to cover health care as opposed to operational costs or profits. Carriers that sell large group coverage have to have a three-year rolling average MLR of 85%. If an insurance company fails to meet these standards, it must pay out prorated rebates to all of its plan members in the affected markets.[17]
UnitedHealthcare and other UnitedHealth Group companies paid out rebates in the following states and markets in 2023:[18]
State | Individual Market | Small Group Market | Large Group Market |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | ✓ | X | X |
Arizona | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Arkansas | X | ✓ | ✓ |
California | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Delaware | X | ✓ | X |
Florida | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Hawaii | X | X | ✓ |
Idaho | X | X | ✓ |
Illinois | X | X | ✓ |
Indiana | X | X | ✓ |
Iowa | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Kansas | X | ✓ | X |
Louisiana | ✓ | ✓ | X |
Maryland | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Michigan | ✓ | X | X |
Minnesota | X | X | ✓ |
Mississippi | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Missouri | X | ✓ | X |
Nebraska | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Nevada | X | X | ✓ |
New Jersey | X | ✓ | ✓ |
New York | X | ✓ | ✓ |
North Carolina | ✓ | X | X |
Ohio | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Tennessee | X | X | ✓ |
Virginia | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Wisconsin | X | ✓ | X |
Wyoming | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Meanwhile, eligibility for rebates varies among Blue Cross Blue Shield plan members since each BCBS company operates independently. For example, BCBS policyholders in South Carolina received rebates in 2022, while policyholders in Massachusetts received rebates in 2023.[19][20]
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Enrollment Process
You will usually need to join a UnitedHealthcare or Blue Cross Blue Shield plan during open enrollment if you shop through the Health Insurance Marketplace. In most states, open enrollment lasts from November 1 to January 15.[21] If you’re looking for a Medicare Advantage plan instead, then you’ll need to remember these Medicare open enrollment dates:[22]
Enrollment Period | What You Can Do |
---|---|
Three months before your Medicare coverage starts to three months after your Medicare coverage starts | Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan as long as you have already signed up for Medicare Parts A and B |
October 15 to December 7 | Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another or drop Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare |
January 1 to March 31 (or any time during your first three months on Medicare) | Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another or drop Medicare Advantage and go back to Original Medicare |
However, you can still sign up for either type of plan outside of open enrollment if you qualify for a special enrollment period. Special enrollment periods are typically triggered by major life events that alter your coverage needs such as these:[23]
- Getting married, divorced or separated
- Giving birth to or adopting a child
- Changing or losing your job
- Moving to a new home
- Losing your existing health coverage due to the death of a family member
- Aging out of your parents’ health plan by turning 26
- Becoming a United States citizen
- Leaving prison
UnitedHealthcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Policyholder Experience
Blue Cross Blue Shield stands out when it comes to the quality of the policyholder experience, as a 2024 J.D. Power study found that BCBS companies have the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any health insurance company in the following eight regions:[24]
- Colorado
- Delaware/West Virginia/Washington, D.C.
- Heartland
- Illinois/Indiana
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Northeast
- Southwest
In contrast, UnitedHealthcare is not the highest-rated insurer in any region.[24] Additionally, although UnitedHealthcare does not have a star rating based on customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau website, it has received an F rating from the BBB itself, while Blue Cross Blue Shield has received an A+ rating from the BBB.[25][26]
Review Platform | UnitedHealthcare Rating | BCBS Rating |
---|---|---|
Better Business Bureau | No star rating[25] | 1.13/5 stars[26] |
Best Company | 2/5 stars[27] | 3.1/5 stars[28] |
How To File Claims With UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare allows members to submit insurance claims through an online portal, while the claims process for Blue Cross Blue Shield can vary from company to company but generally involves filling out a claim form and sending it to your BCBS company.[29][30] Remember that in-network providers will typically file a claim for you but you may be responsible for filing your own claim after you visit an out-of-network provider.
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FAQs
Is Blue Cross Blue Shield better than UnitedHealthcare?
While Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare are similar in many ways, BCBS is slightly better since it has a larger network and better customer satisfaction ratings.
Who owns UnitedHealthcare?
UnitedHealthcare is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.
Is UnitedHealthcare a good network?
UnitedHealthcare boasts an impressive network that includes 1.3 million health care professionals.[5]
Sources
- Star Tribune. “UnitedHealth Group Founder To Retire From the Board After More Than 40 Years.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield. “An Industry Pioneer.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield. “The Blue Cross Blue Shield System.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- UHCprovider.com. “Health Plans by State.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- UnitedHealthcare. “About Us.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- KFF. “Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2018-2024.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs To Remain Stable in 2024.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- HealthCare.gov. “How Health Insurance Marketplace Plans Set Your Premiums.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- United States Department of Health & Human Services. “Lifetime & Annual Limits.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- HealthCare.gov. “Find Out What Marketplace Health Insurance Plans Cover.” Accessed July 11, 2024.
- Google Play. “UnitedHealthcare.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- App Store. “UnitedHealthcare.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Google Play. “Blue Connect Mobile NC.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- App Store. “Blue Connect Mobile NC.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Google Play. “Blue Shield of California.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- App Store. “Blue Shield of California.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “Insurance Topics | Medical Loss Ratio.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- UnitedHealthcare. “Strategic Initiatives | Regulatory | Medical Loss Ratio Reporting,” Pages 1-2. Accessed July 12, 2024.
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. “MLR Rebates To Be Issued to Small Group Members.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Rebate 2023 FAQ,” Page 1. Accessed July 12, 2024.
- HealthCare.gov. “When Can You Get Health Insurance?” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Medicare.gov. “Joining a Plan.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- HealthCare.gov. “Getting Health Coverage Outside Open Enrollment.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- J.D. Power. “2024 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Better Business Bureau. “UnitedHealthcare A UnitedHealth Group Co. | Business Details.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Better Business Bureau. “Blue Cross & Blue Shield.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Best Company. “560+ UnitedHealthcare Reviews.” Accessed July 15, 2024.
- Best Company. “840+ BlueCross BlueShield Reviews.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- UnitedHealthcare. “How To Submit a Claim.” Accessed July 12, 2024.
- Blue Cross NC. “Member Claim Form Requirements,” Page 2. Accessed July 12, 2024.